Philodendron plant named &#39;PHM1&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Philodendron  cultivar named ‘PHM1’ is disclosed, characterized by deeply lobed, glossy, dark green foliage and a distinctive outwardly growing, semi-horizontal habit. Plants grow rapidly and produce an abundance of foliage. Plant habit is well suited for 8 to 12 inch commercial pots. The new variety is a  Philodendron , normally produced as an indoor ornamental container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Philodendron selloum.

Variety denomination: ‘PHM1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Philodendron cultivar is a product of chance discovery by theinventor, Gary Hennen, a citizen of the United States. The discoveryresulting in this new variety was made September 2010, by Gary Hennen ata commercial nursery in Altha, Fla.

The parent is the unpatented variety Philodendron selloum ‘Hope’. Thenew variety was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plant mutationamong a population of tissue culture propagated plants used forcommercial production of the parent variety.

First asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PHM1’ was performed bytissue culture at a commercial laboratory in Altha, Fla. in June 2012.Multiple generations have been produced, and have shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PHM1’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PHM1’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PHM1’ as a new and distinct Philodendroncultivar:

-   -   1. Large dark green mature leaves with a very glossy appearance.    -   2. Rapid growth.    -   3. Abundant leaf production.    -   4. Semi-horizontal growth habit, forming an outwardly spreading        plant.    -   5. Plant habit suitable for 8 to 12 inch commercial pots.    -   6. Deeply lobed leaf blades.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PHM1’ are comparable to the parentPhilodendron selloum ‘Hope’, unpatented. The two Philodendron varietiesare similar in most horticultural characteristics however, the newvariety ‘PHM1’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety grows more vigorously than the parent        variety.    -   2. The new variety produces larger foliage, on average 46 cm        long and 48 cm wide, compared to 35 cm long and 40 cm wide leaf        blades of a similar aged plant of the parent variety.    -   3. Leaf color of the new variety is Green 139A, parent variety        leaf color is Green 137A.    -   4. Average petiole length of the new variety is 45 to 50 cm,        compared to 60 to 70 cm of the parent variety.    -   5. The new variety is a denser, fuller plant, the parent variety        is more open.    -   6. The leaf petiole, midrib and veins of the new variety are        dark green, compared to yellow-Green coloration of similar parts        of the parent variety.    -   7. Average mature plant height of the new variety is 1.2 meters,        compared to an average mature height of 1.5 to 1.8 meters of        ‘Hope’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PHM1’ are comparable to the varietyPhilodendron hybridum ‘Congo’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,724. The twoPhilodendron varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristicshowever, the new variety ‘PHM1’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Mature height of the new variety is 1.2 meter, compared to 60        cm mature height of ‘Congo’.    -   2. The new variety is a fuller, denser plant than ‘Congo’.    -   3. The new variety has a longer leaf blade by an average of 7        cm.    -   4. The new variety has a wider leaf blade by an average of 15 to        20 cm.    -   5. The leaf petiole, midrib and veins of the new variety are        dark green, compared to Yellow-Green coloration of similar parts        of the variety ‘Congo’.    -   6. Leaf margin of the new variety are deeply lobed, leaf margins        of ‘Congo’ are entire.    -   7. The new variety has a semi-horizontal habit, compared to the        upright habit of ‘Congo’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PHM1’ are comparable to the commercialvariety Philodendron hybridum ‘Rojo Congo’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,116.The two Philodendron varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however the new variety differs in the following:

-   -   1. Mature height of the new variety is 1.2 meter, compared to 65        cm mature height of ‘Rojo Congo’.    -   2. The new variety is a fuller, denser plant than ‘Rojo Congo’.    -   3. The new variety has a longer leaf blade by an average of 5        cm.    -   4. The new variety has a wider leaf blade by an average of 15 to        20 cm.    -   5. The leaf petiole, midrib and veins of the new variety are        dark green, compared to Yellow-Green coloration of similar parts        of the variety ‘Rojo Congo’.    -   6. Leaf margin of the new variety are deeply lobed, leaf margins        of ‘Rojo Congo’ are entire.    -   7. The new variety has a semi-horizontal habit, compared to the        upright habit of ‘Rojo Congo’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a plant of ‘PhM1’ in a 10 inch pot,approximately 8 months old from a single rooted tissue culture plantlet.The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘PHM1’ plants grown in a climate controlledgreenhouse in Altha, Fla., USA. Temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25°C. at night to 25° C. to 32° C. during the day. Light intensity wasbetween 2500 and 3500 foot-candles. No artificial light, photoperiodictreatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Philodendron selloum ‘PHM1’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 14 days at approximately 25°            C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet.—Approximately 8 to 12            weeks at approximately 22° to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fleshy, thick, roots covered in fine            lateral roots. Colored near RHS White 155A.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of the plant described.—Approximately 8 months from a            single rooted tissue culture plantlet.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-horizontal, outwardly spreading, tender            tropical.        -   Height.—Approximately 72 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 137 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Branching characteristics.—Approximately 50% of branching is            basal. With maturity additional branches occur on higher            growing points.        -   Number of leaves per stem.—Approximately 10.        -   Length of stem.—21 cm.        -   Diameter of stem.—1.4 cm.        -   Characteristics of stem.—Form: Round. Color: Near RHS            Greyed-Brown 199B. Texture: Glabrous. Oldest part of stem is            rough with a somewhat woody texture. Strength: Very strong.        -   Internode length.—1.8 cm to 3.0 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate or irregular spiral. Average Length:            Approximately 42 to 46 cm. Average Width: Approximately 45            to 50 cm at widest point. Shape of blade: Highly lobed,            overall oblate. Apex: Acute Base: Cordate Margin: Undulating            and deeply lobed. Aspect: Recurved downward, slightly            undulate. Texture of top surface: Glabrous. Texture of            bottom surface: Glabrous. Appearance of top surface: Very            glossy. Appearance of lower surface: Slightly shiny Color:            Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 139A Young foliage            under side: Near RHS Green 137B Mature foliage upper side:            Near RHS Green 139A Mature foliage under side: Near RHS            Green 137A Venation: Type: Palmate Midrib characteristics:            Protruding very slightly on upperside, significantly on            underside. Venation coloration: Mid rib upperside: Near RHS            Green 137B. Mid rib underside: Near RHS Green 143B. Lateral            veins upperside: Near RHS Green 137B. Lateral veins            underside: Near RHS Green 141D. Lobes: Quantity: Average            range 8 to 16 lobes per leaf Length from mid rib vein to            apex: Average range 22 cm to 29 cm. Width: Average range 3.2            to 4.0 cm Shape: Narrowly oblong Aspect: Straight to            undulate. Margin: Highly undulating, nearly ruffled. Entire.        -   Petiole.—Length: Average range for mature leaf 45 to 55 cm.            Width: At base 1.3 cm near leaf blade 0.9 cm. Color            Upperside: Near RHS Green 137B. Underside: Between RHS Green            141B and 141C. Angle: Approximately 30° angle to stem. Older            foliage approximately 60° to 75° to stem. Strength: Very            strong, moderately flexible. Texture: Very slightly ribbed            texture. Glabrous.-   Flower: Flowering has not been observed.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to Philodendron            have been observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates            temperatures between −2 to 40° C.        -   Fruit/seed production.—Not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Philodendron plantnamed ‘PHM1’ as herein illustrated and described.